Building a diverse and inclusive culture across Motor Sport and Mobility

In June 2020, the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) launched the ‘PurposeDriven’ movement, an initiative which aims to bring together the FIA and its Member Organisations in a collaborative, united effort to generate positive actions for the betterment of society across four key pillars: Health & Safety, Environment, Diversity & Inclusion, and Community Development.

The movement included a commitment to strengthen Diversity & Inclusion, which built on amendments to the FIA Statutes in late 2019 to prohibit discriminatory conduct in motor sport and mobility.

To strengthen its work and build on the success of its ‘PurposeDriven’ movement, at the end of 2020 the FIA asked former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Prince Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein and Shift Vice President Rachel Davis to provide it with expert advice. Based on their work with other global sports organisations such as the International Olympic Committee and FIFA, reflected on how the authoritative international framework – the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights – could be applied to the FIA’s reality and, in particular, to the work on Diversity and Inclusion.

Through this partnership, the experts – together with Anna Triponel of Shift – produced a report with a set of recommendations for the FIA on how to create a more diverse and inclusive culture across Motor Sport and Mobility; and how to advance the Federation’s broader approach to managing human rights risks in line with international human rights standards.

Jean Todt, FIA President, said: “Diversity & Inclusion is at the heart of our PurposeDriven movement. We want to build a diverse and inclusive culture across Motor Sport and Mobility. I would like to thank Rachel and Zeid for their support and I am convinced that the FIA will continue to progress on this strategic issue.”

Rachel Davis, Vice President of Shift, said: “The FIA has a unique role to play in embedding respect for people’s dignity not only into its own operations, but into the entire world of Motor Sport and Mobility. Our recommendations explain how the FIA can use its influence to help build a more equitable and inclusive world, where the rights of all are respected.”